Siphonproof fuel tank



June 13, 1933. w. E. MORELAND SIPHONPROOF FUEL TANK Filed March 2, 1931 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS ing at the smaller end' of the frusto-co-nical Patented June 13, 1933 untrue STATES PATENT osrica.

WILLIAM E. MOR'ELAND, O13 COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 CHARLES E. FLOWERS AND GEORGIA Application filed March 2,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in anti-theft devices primarily designed for application upon fuel tanks and the like to frustrate attempts to remove the contents of the tank by siphon- One of the principal objects of the invention consists of a baflle or deflector for diverting the liquid in such manner from the filling neck of the tank so as to prevent ingress of siphoning tubes and the like but without impairing the filling action fro-1n a dispensing tank hose.

More specifically stated the device is provided with air conduits or vents arranged at remote points from the battles and in communication with the filling neck to discharge air from the tank displaced by the added liquid content.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further consists of the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing an pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional View, taken through a fuel tank disclosing the relative arrangement of the anti-theft device.

Figure 2 is a si le elevation of the tank partly broken away and showing the device in section during the filling operation.

Referring to thedrawing in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates generally a form of motor vehicle fuel tank having the usual filling neck 11 and conduit 12 in communication with the vacuum tank, fuel pump of a motor vehicle, not shown. 7

The invention comprises a substantially inverted conical member 13 and a correspondingly disposed frusto-conically shaped memher 14 nested in the manner suggested in the drawing, the apex of the conical-shaped memher being align-ed with the center of the openshaped member 14 for purposes to be better understood in the following description of the invention. The members 13 and 14 are ONE-THIRD TO WARNER V.

SIPI-IONPROOF FUEL TANK 1931. Serial No. 519,582. 7

held spaced, at their larger peripheral edges wall or ceiling of v the fuel from the upper reservoir or tank through the employment These strap members or brackets 15 are arranged at spaced intervals upon the members 13 and 14 whereby the gasoline or other fuel introduced through the filling neck 11 from the nozzle end of a dispensing pump hose may overflow from the peripheries of the members and spill within the tank in the manner suggested in Figure 2 of the drawing. The periphery of the conical member 13 is disposed in a plane slightly lower than the upper periphery of the frusto-conical shaped member 14 whereby the gasoline or other fuel may readily find its way within the tank without creating a baffle of such extent as to cause the gasoline or other fuel to back out of the filling neck. In fact, some of the gasoline will overflow the peripheral edge of the member 14, other quantities will be directed through the opening at the smaller end of the member 14, completely fill and overflow from the peripheral edge of the conical member 13.

Precaution has also been made to vent air, fumes and the like being displaced'during the filling. operation, same being accomplished through the employment of vent pipes 16 arranged along the inner wall of the tank adjacent the top thereof, spaced at their outer ends from the end walls of the tank and offset at their innermost ends to project outwardly and upwardly for appreciable distances through the filling neck 11 of the tank.

Although I have shown and described the anti-theft device upon a motor vehicle fuel tank, it is obviously apparent that the device could be employed to equal effect upon other forms of reservoirs or tanks to prevent theft of the contents thereof by siphoning. It has been found that a twenty gallon capacity tank could be filled in one minute with the latest power or force pumps without incurring any possibility of spilling any of the liquid.

FLOWERS, or ATLANTA,

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention What is claimed is:

An anti-theft device for fuel tanks provided With a filling opening comprising spaced pairs of brackets secured to the inner wall of the tank to opposite sides of the filling opening thereof, an inverted conicalshaped member arranged Within the tank and secured to certain of the brackets, a frusto-conical shaped member disposed Within and spaced from the said inverted conical-shaped member, the said last-named conical member having its peripheral edge secured to the other of said brackets and disposed above the peripheral edge of the inverted conical-shaped member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my slgnature.

WILLIAM EDWARD MORELANDU 

